Major League Soccer Facts

David Beckham has signed to the MLS! Check out these kickin' Major League Soccer facts and records.

Major League Soccer - Famous Firsts

Major League Soccer started in 1996 with ten teams split into the Eastern Conference and Western Conference. The first MLS Cup was won by D.C. United. The league now has 12 teams with a 13th team in Toronto to be added in 2007.

The first player seleced in the Major League Soccer player draft was Brian McBride, who was selected by the Columbus Crew. McBride would go on to become a star for the US National Team at the 2002 World Cup.

The first MVP of Major League soccer was Colombian soccer star, Carlos Valderrama, who played for the Tampa Bay Mutiny. He also holds the distinction of having the coolest hair of any player in MLS history - as you can see by the picture above.

Major League Soccer - Star Players

Freddy Adu - Freddy Adu became the youngest pro athlete in recent American sports history, when he joined D.C. United of the MLS when he was just 14. Although Adu didn't play much his first season, he has blossomed into one of the most exciting young soccer players in the world and the star attraction for MLS.

Landon Donovan - Since joining the San Jose Earthquakes in 2001, Landon Donovan has become one of the league's most popular and recognizable players. Donovan is the league's all-time leading playoff scorer and won MLS Cups in 2001, 2003 and 2005.

Taylor Twellman - A dangerous goal scorer who can change a game in a split second, Twellman was the league and all-star game MVP in 2005. The New England Revolution striker should be a star in MLS for many years to come.

Major League Soccer - Scoring Records

Clint Mathis holds the MLS record for most goals scored in a single game. Mathis scored five goals while playing for the New York MetroStars during a 6-4 victory over Dallas in 2000.

Jason Kreis of Real Salt Lake is the all-time leading goal scorer in Major League Soccer history. Kreis has found the back of the net 107 times during his ten year MLS career.

Landon Donovan, of the LA Galaxy, holds the record for most career MLS playoff goals with 14.